A WOMAN'S repeated breach of a deportation order was revealed when police took her fingerprints following a theft, a court heard.

Raluca Constantine appeared at Mold Crown Court via video link on Monday morning from HMP Styal, having been arrested in Powys in July.

The 31-year-old had admitted on Friday that she entered the UK in breach of a deportation order.

Catherine Elvin, prosecuting, told the court that on July 28, the defendant was arrested for theft and booked into police custody at Newtown.

When her fingerprints were taken, results indicated they related to Raluca Constantine but with a different surname.

The Home Office was contacted and the police were informed by Immigration Enforcement that Constantine, whose address was given as Belvidere Road in Princess Park, Liverpool, was subject to a deportation order, issues in December 2017.

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She'd been deported to Romania on January 12, 2018 under the surname Vasile.

Further investigation revealed Constantine had taken 10 flights into and out of Birmingham Airport between October 2023 and July 2024.

Anna Price, defending, said: "I have to concede the aggravating features; the repeated trips to the UK and the commission of the one offence.

"I make the point this was just one offence, and not a serious one."

Ms Price said her client had two daughters in Romania, one of whom is "seriously unwell."

"Ms Constantine is a hair stylist and believed she could earn more money in the UK which is why she travelled here to try and get work," she added.

"Her plan was to send money back for her daughter's treatment.

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"Ms Constantine deeply regrets what has happened and has asked me to ask Your Honour for a lenient sentence to let her return to her daughters."

Judge Niclas Parry told an emotional Constantine: "There is significant concern in this country about illegal immigration; there has probably never been a greater concern.

"The cost of trying to deal with this problem, to the public in this country, is enormous and because of that the courts are requested or directed to help by imposing deterrent sentences.

"This was a determined, repeated case of breaching the order.

"You showed a total disregard for it - making attempts to conceal your identity by using different names and even when you were here you carried on offending in this country."

The Judge said although he had regard to the impact any immediate term of imprisonment would have on the defendant's children, the case was simply too serious to suspend.

As such, Constantine was jailed for 12 months.

The Judge said: "Whilst it is not an order this court can make, you will no doubt be deported - and you should understand that if you continue to breach the deportation order, the sentence would be very significant."